The upcoming, and very unofficial unlock tool for Windows Phone 7
Winrumors

While Microsoft may have put the kibosh on the first jailbreak for the Windows Phone 7 platform, another one is on the way.

Developer Julien Schapman, speaking to blog Winrumors, outlined his plans to release a Windows Phone 7 "Device Manager" that will let users do things like side-load applications, explore the phone's file system, add custom ringtones, and manage applications. In other words, a handful of things the device does not currently offer out of the box.

Schapman said the software would be released following Microsoft's first software update, which is expected next month, so as to keep Microsoft from closing the loophole which is being used for the unlock. Schapman also said that his solution gets around one of Microsoft's built-in security measures, which would phone home to verify the software, and re-lock the software if it found any differences. This check occurred every two weeks, forcing users to re-run the unlocking software each time it happened.

If launched, Schapman's solution would be the second jailbreaking tool to be made available for the Windows Phone 7 platform. The first, ChevronWP7, was released in late November, and was pulled down just days later by the request of Microsoft, which had contacted the three-man development group about "officially facilitating home-brew development" on the platform. In early January, the ChevonWP7 creators also announced that Microsoft planned to close the exploit the team had been using, as part of the first system software update.

Earlier this week, famed PlayStation 3 and Apple iOS hacker George Hotz had announced that he intended to jailbreak the new Windows phones. Microsoft responded by offering to provide Hotz with a device, encouraging him to "let dev creativity flourish."

About the author

Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
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